London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Aug 28, 2025

Inside a chic, industrial-inspired penthouse loft with skyline views

Inside a chic, industrial-inspired penthouse loft with skyline views

This penthouse loft apartment boasts 11-foot high ceilings, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame city skyline views...
The property


An exceptionally chic full-floor penthouse in a Chicago high-rise, with a clever broken plan layout and sweeping city views from double-height windows. The striking home was designed by Chicago-based firm Wheeler Kearns Architects for two collectors.

Entrance


After a lengthy search, the happy new owners came across this full penthouse floor of a Chicago high-rise, featuring striking 11 foot high ceilings, a double height space looking south to the city, and 360 degree views.

They gutted the property back to a shell condition, then brought on Chicago-based firm Wheeler Kearns Architects to completely reconfigure the apartment.

                

Living space


The architects completely renovated this full-floor penthouse apartment into an eminently spacious residence for the two collectors. The owners, a couple who are lifelong collectors of modern and contemporary art and furniture, wanted a scheme that would showcase their extensive collection.

                

A sliding panel wall can be shut to separate the guest bedroom and TV area behind it, making this space feel a little more intimate.

                

The penthouse apartment features furnishings by Eames, Evans, Mies, Nakashima, Nelson and Wegner, and the artworks include a Harry Bertoia sounding sculpture.

                

The owners use this space to entertain, and regularly host philanthropic events in the space. Their brief for the architects was: “a home we love, have pride in, are comfortable in; ability to entertain graciously with simple elegance”.

As lifelong collectors, the brief also included finding space for numerous pieces of mid-century (to present day) furniture, sculpture, art.

                

A double-height wall of shelving houses personal books and objects, with a staircase spiraling up to a mezzanine level.

                


Together with the owners, the architects chose a non-directional end-grain walnut floor, providing the visual weight and durability of a factory. They then plastered perimeter walls for art, and added in perforated metal, slatted wood, and floating planes of fabric to provide acoustic absorption.

                

                

Steel storage, shelving, and the mezzanine balcony and staircase all add to the industrial-inspired look.

                

This broken-plan living space is the highlight of the apartment, with 11-foot high ceilings that feature floor-to-ceiling windows, framing city skyline views.

                

TV area


With the main focal point being the view, a separate seating area was created to form a cosy TV nook.

                

The TV isn't obviously visible – instead it's disguised behind a sliding painting, mounted above the fireplace.

                

                

Family room


But that's not the only place to catch up on films or TV – there's a separate family room, created for watching films and TV together.

                

A red backdrop helps make their collection of dolls pop.

                

Kitchen area


At the other end of the apartment is a large, open plan kitchen with a marble kitchen island, and a dining area just off it.

                

The architects opted for striking glossy red cabinets.

                

Home office


The home office for two is streamlined and chic, and boasts floor to ceiling skyline views.

                

Guest suite


A guest bedroom is sectioned off from the main living space by a pair of sliding wood doors – one to enclose just the sleeping area, and the other offers the option of including the TV area as part of the guest suite.

                

These barn / pocketing doors help to create a clever, broken-plan scheme that can open up when the space is needed, and be closed off for privacy.

                

                

Master suite


The master bedroom is strikingly chic, with floating bedside tables mounted against a modern wood panelled wall.

                

Dressing room


The adjoining dressing room boasts a dressing room island, crowned by Louis Poulsen's classic Artichoke pendant light.

                

Master bathroom


The marble-clad bathroom offers his 'n' hers sinks, and more skyline views beyond the floating mirrors.

                

                

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
×